Automatic variable-adjusting means for lubricators



c. D. ALLEN 1,724,865

AUTOMATIC VARIABLE ADJUSTING MEANS FOR LUBRICATORS Aug. 13, 1929.

Filed Dec. 19, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet l ATTO R N EY 1929- c. D. ALLEN1,724,865

AUTOMATIC VARIABLE ADJUSTING MEANS FOR LUBRICATORS Filed Dec. 19, 1927 4Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Au 13, 1929. c, D, ALLEN 1,724,865

AUTOMATIC VARIABLE ADJUSTING MEANS FOR LUBRICA'IORS Filed Dec. 19, 1927I 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 13, 1929. c ALLEN 1,724,865

' AUTOMATIC VARIABLE ADJUSTING MEANS FOR LUBRICATORS Filed Dec. 19, 19274 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR A'ITORNEY katented Aug. '13, 1929.

meets Parser orrica.

CHAUNGEY D. ALLEN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC VARIABLE-ADJUSTING MEANS FOR LUBRIGATORS.

Application filed December s, 1927. Serial No. 241,195.

The present invention relates to the art of force feed lubricators ofthe mechanical type, particularly adapted for locomotives,"

stationary and marine engines.

Lubricators of this type now in use receives power from a convenientmoving or oscillatory element of the valve gear of the engine. Atpresent such lubricators, prior to service, are manually adjusted forthe purpose of governing the supply of lubricant to the various parts tobe lubricated, namely the cylinders, valves and guides and the like. Themovements of this oscillatory element are transmitted to a form of pumpor plunger-arrangement, which provides for a lift or opening, to ermitof a predetermined supply of lubrlcant to the parts as enumerated above,that is according to the manual adjustment of the lubricator.

From the above it is quite obvious that the great fault with suchlubricators,'namely the force feed type, is that no provision whateveris made for the variation in steam pressure used in the valves andcylinders. Therefore it is also obvious that when a locomotive isoperating under full capacity, that is working hard .under a heavy load,possibly due to pulling a steep grade, a greater quantity of lubricantis necessary, and when the locomotive is working under a light capacityor drifting, a lesser quantity of lubricant may be required.

As previously stated su'ch lubricators are adjusted prior to service,and furthermore there are certain railroad regulations or laws forprohibiting the engineer or fireman from climbing out on the enginewhile the cylinder, valves, guides and the like will,

'in motion to manually adjust the lubricators.

It is therefore the purpose of thepresent invention to provide a new anduseful automatic variable adjusting means for locom'otive lubricators,such as will vary the supply of'lubricant to the cylinders, valves,guides and the like, according to the variation in steam pressure, thatis to say, when the locomotive is working hard or under full capacity,the cylinders, valves, guides and the like will accordingly receive therequisite supply of lubricant, and when thelocomotive is .working undera light capacity, or drifting, a smaller supply of lubricant will reachthe cylinders, valves, guides and the like. In fact the supply oflubricant into in every instance, correspond with the variation of thesteampressure.

Another purpose is to provide, in an auto- -matic variable adjustingmeans for force feed lubricators, which is simple, practicable anddurable in construction, and can be applied without any extensivealterations to the present type of force feed lubricators, and will notrequire manual adjustment.

As previolsly stated the present type of force feed lubricators includea pump or plunger arrangement, which is adapted for a lifting or openingmovement for the purpose of supplying lubricant to the cylinders,valves, guides and the like, and hence another purpose is to providemeans so op' erably associated with such plungers, and actuated in anymanner, namely through the medium of any application of fluid pressure,or thermostatic pressure, possibly as a result of the use of a diaphragmexpansion chamber, whereby according to the variation in steam pressure,the plunger arrangement can be correspondingly actuated,

' to vary the supply of lubricant to the cylinders, valves, guides andthe like of the locomotive. It is obvious that such operating means. asmay be used may be applied in any manner, and arranged vertically or onany angle, in fact in any position or location.

At present the plungers as now used are governed in their movements forsupplying lubricant through the medium of elements or devices, namelysuch as screws which are manually adjusted prior to the locomotiveleaving the yard, to limit the plungers in their movements, or to limitheaders (which are used in some types of lubricators) in theirmovements, therefore it is a further purpose to provide means operableintermediate such screws or devices and the plungers or headers, andfurthermore to provide any means whatever, automatically op- 1 enable toactuate said intermediate means.

' A still further purpose is to provide an operating mechanism which isreadily accessible, self-indicating and positive in action, and soconstructed that accidental op-i eration or failure thereof, ispractically impossible.

It is to be understood that the particulars herein given are in no waylimitive, and that while still keeping within the scope e1"- theinvention, eny desired modification of details and proportions may bemade in the construction of the appliance according to circumstances.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts to behereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1-is a view in elevation of a portion of the valve gear of alocomotive, and illustrating a force feed lubricator applied, the latterincluding the automatic variable 'means for regulating the supply oflubricant to the cylinders, valves, guides and the like, according tothe variation of steam pressure.

Figure 2is a perspective view of same chanical locomotive lubricator,showing the cover thereof open and illustrating the automatic variablemeans applied.

Figure 3is a sectional view on line 33 of Figure 2, with the coverclosed, showing the intermediate means between a plunger and theadjusting screw.

Figure 4is a sectional view on line 44 of Figure 2, through a cylinderwherein its plunger is still actuated, but in turn operat-' ing areciprocating bar which carries the intermediate members or} wedges forregulating the position of suclriwedges or intermediate devices which311 turn govern the the limiting screws, illustrating a pressure gaugeof any approved construction operatively connected to and actuating saidrotating element.

Figure 8is a plan view of Figure 7 showing the cover open.

Flgure 9's an enlarged detailed view in perspectiveof the rockingelement in Figures 7 and 8, for actuating said wedges or mostaticexpansion diaphragm for operating a rod 89, and also showing the wedgesReferring to the drawings, l identifies a conventional or approved typeof valve gear and 2 is an approved valveless mechanical locomotivelubricator of which its operating arm 3 is operatively connected asshown at 4: to the valve gear, so that power may be transmitted to thelubricator through the medium of said valve gear.

As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 7, the lubri cator includes a plurality ofplungers 5, which are actuated by any approved means .for permittingsupply of lubricant to the cylinders, valves, guides and the like. Thislubricator as shown in Figure 3 is of an approved construction now inuse, and located within its oil reservoir are separate valveless pumpsfor each of the feed outlets 6 and 7. These plungers 5 are capable ofvertical and slight rocking movements. In fact each plunger, in itshighest and lowest position automatically opens and closes the oil inletopening and oil outlet opening, through the medium of a turning movementof the plunger.

The plunger thus replaces the suction and discharge valves, thereforethis type of pump may be termed a valveless construction.

The casing of the lubricator includes what is known as a. ratchet shaft8 of approved construction and capable of rotating movement through anywell known approved mechanism such-as indicated'at 9.

This shaft carries a crank disc. 10, which has an opening 11eccentrically positioned,

and receiving the ball or spherical member 12 of an arm, which iscarriedby a collar or sleeve 13 mounted upon a reciprocating shaft 14. Thesleeve or collar has a second arm 16 also provided with a ball 17, whichoperates in a slot 18 of the plunger. This slot 18 is so constructed asto enable the ball 17 to have vertical movement therein and to permitthe plunger to raise and lower and at the same time have a slightrocking movement, the rocking and vertical movements of the plungerenables the oil inlet opening and the oil outlet opening to open andclose, enabling the supply of lubricant to reach, the cylinders, valves,guides and the like. The fact is the'slot devices. 7 1

Figure 10is an enlarged, detailed view of a ,portion of lubricator, of atype using a header and a header carrier, with a ro tating element foractuating wedges between an adjusting screw and a header, which headercooperates in any well known approved way with a plunger, which governsthe supply of lubricant to the cylinders, valves, guides and the like. IFigure 11.;is a detailed view of a theris in the enlarged circular topportion of the plunger, thereby termed the cross head. This slot in thecross head is such that on the upward or suction stroke of the plung-ier, the scillatory motion of the smaller arm (which carries the ball 17)will leave the plunger free to push upward through the medium of thespring 19 below the cross head. On the downward or pressurestroke theball end of the smaller arm contacts with the bottom of the slotpressing the plunger down. As the elongated slot is seated on theperiphery of the cross head, the reciprocating 'nrotion of the shaft 14causes the plunger to oscillate and the turning movement thus producedcaused a groove or opening in the plunger to register with the chamberor. passage 21 on the up stroke and with the-discharge chamber 7 on thedown stroke. The amount of the upward motion of the plunger is limitedby contacting with an adjusting screw 23 and the extension rod 24 of theplunger. The action. of the plunger can be visually inspected and theextension rod raised and lowered, through the open chamber beneath theadjusting screw and formed in the screw carrier or plug 25 by the merelifting of the cover at the top of the reservoir 26. The amount ofmotion may be varied from full stroke to zero by positioning of thescrew 23.

In practicethere are at least six of these plungers and adjusting screwsand screw carriers.

As previously stated these screws 23 are adjusted manually prior toservice, and therefore there is no way of regulating the movement of theplungers, that is automatically with the variation of steam pressure inthe cylinders, and valves of a locomotive. The fact is when a locomotiveis traveling there are railroad regulations" or laws preventing theengineer or fireman from climbing out on the locomotive to adjust thescrews, for the purpose of regulating the movements of the plungersaccording to the variation in the steam pressure in the cylinders andvalves.

The present invention consist-s of employing a reciprocating bar 27which has guide slots 28 and guide screws 29, for the purpose of guidingthe bar in itmregiprocating motions. The bar 27 is mounted toreciprocate along the side of the: screw carriers 25 and the end of thisbar projects through and beyond the side wall of the lubricator, andattached in any approved manner, for instance as shown at'30 is anextension rod 31, which is provided atits end with an annular groove orchannel 32.

The bar 27 is rovided with lateral projections 33 carrying holdingscrews 34, and 35 identifies a plurality of wedges. These wedges are ofthe construction as shown in Figure 6, and their reduced flat portions36 have slots -37, which receive the shanks of the holding screws 34.Obviously by loosening and tightening the holding screws the wedges maybe adjusted relative to the lateral projections 33, that is in adirection longitudinally with the bar. The wedges operate throughopenings .38 in the screw carriers 25, so as to be arranged intermediatethe upper ends of the extension rods 24 and the lower ends of theadjusting screws 23. The wedges actuate between the ends of theextension rods and the ends of the screws 23 according to the variationin steam pressure in the valves and cylinders.

To accomplish this result any form or construction of means such as maybe actuated thermostatically or hydraulically and which may vary intemperature or in fluid pressure may be provided. As one type of means acylinder 39 may be supported by ears 40 and securing means 41 to theside of the lubricator casing and mounted in the cylinder is a piston 42of approved construction having a plurality of the usual packing rings43. Passing through the piston 42 is a socketed member 44, and carriedby the piston is a nut 46. This nut normally rests upon an upstandingportion 47.

of a steam inlet identified at 48, which permits steam under pressure toenter in the direction of the arrow (1 as indicated in Figure 2, wherebythe steam may act upon the lower face of the piston 42. The socketedmember connects with a ball 49 at the lower end of a piston rod 50, tothe upper end of which a nipple 51 is connected. The fact is the nippleis threaded into the rod 50, and in turn to the cylindrical end 52 of aforked connector or couple 53, there being suitable lock nuts 54. and 55to lock the nipple in place.

The cylinder 39 has a cover 56, which is bolted or otherwise secured at57 to the upper end ofthe cylinder. Threaded through the cover 56 and insurrounding relation to the piston rod 50 is an adjusting screw sleeve58, which cooperates with a collar 59 fittingthe interior of thecylinder 39. This collar 59'fits the cylinder, but loosely surrounds thepiston .50, and its interior is provided with a series of annularshoulders 60 and 61 in stepped relation.

One face of the piston 42 is provided with a plurality of spaced flanges62, and located within the cylinder 39 in surrounding relation to thepiston rod50 is a plurality of tension springs 63, 64 and 65, which arevariable in tension to provide approximately for 125, 150 and 175 poundspressure. The fact is the outer spring 63 provides for approxlmately.125 pounds pressure, the inner spring 65 provides for approximately 17 5pounds pressure, while the intermediate spring 64 provides approximately150 pounds pressure. The upper end of these springs vary in the numberof convolutions therefore they are in stepped formation and are ofdiameters corresponding to the stepped formation of the annularshoulders 60 and 61. The outer spring may engage one of the shoulders60, the intermost springs may be engaged by the shoulders 61, whereasthe intermediate spring 64 may be engaged by the intermediate annularshoulder 60. The springs at their lower ends engage between'the flanges62, therefore holding the springs properly held spaced by the dependingflanges 66,

which are carried by the collar 59.

Obviously by adjusting the screw sleeve 58 it is possible to regulatethe springs according to their respective pounds pressure.

The forked member 53 is operatively connected at 67 to one arm of a bellcrank 68,

which is operatively mounted for rocking movement at 69 on the side ofthe lubricator casing. The other arm 70 of the bell crank has forks 71,which engage in the annular groove 32 of the extension rod 31 of the bar27.

Obviously when steam passes through the inlet 48 at a point below thepiston 42 the piston is actuated in the cylinder 39 and thereforeimparts movement to the piston 50 and hence transmits this reciprocatingmovement to the bell crank, which rocks on its mounting 69 and thereforeimparts a reciproeating movement to the bar 27 in the direction of thearrow 1) in Figure 2. When the bar is in the position shown in Figure 2the larger portions of the Wedges 35 are interposed between the upperends of the extension rods 24 and the lower ends of the adjusting screws23, thereby permitting a min- .imum amount of oil or lubricant to feedto the valves and cylinders according to the opening and closing of theoil inlet opening and oil outlet opening of the lubricator. However whenthe bar 27 is moved in the direction of the arrow 1) in Figure 2,according to the pressure of steam in the cylinder 39, the smallerportions of the wedges 35 assume positions between the upper ends of theextension rods 24 and the lower ends of the adjusting screws 23. Themovement of the bar 27 is governed primarily due to the variation insteam pressure in the valves or cylinders and when there is a maximumsteam pressure in the valves or cylinders the bar 27 is moved itsmaximum distance due to the actuation of the piston 42 so that theextreme small portions of the wedges may assume positions between theupper ends of the off, and this pipe 91 is in turn operatively.

connected to and communicative with the heating chamber 92, therebyheating the oil and preventing the same from congealing.

As previously stated any construction or type of device, eitherthermostatically or hy draulically operated may be employed, and asanother example Figure 7 discloses'a pressure gauge 7 2 of any wellknown or approved 1 type of construction, and which includes an actuator73 to operate in the direction of the arrow 0. This actuator may connectto any one of the moving elements on the interior of the gauge 72, andthe actuator is in turn 0 eratively connected at 74 to a lateral arm 5carried by the rocking rod 76. This rod is mounted in bearings at thetop of the lubricator casing and has a plurality of series of teeth 77,which are engaged by the ratchet end 78 of the wedges 79. These wedgesare mounted in suitable guides 80 and are positioned so as to engage inthe openings 38 of the screw carriers 25. In Figure 7 the screw carriersare positioned just the reverse as to what they are in Figures 2 and 3,and the wedges are positioned at right angles to those in Figure 2. Whenthe arm 75 is moved in the direction of the arrow (Z it actuatesagainst-the tension of a spring 81, the

lower end of which is attached to the side of the lubricator casing.This'spring operates to return the arm 75 to its normal position, whenthe .pressure in the gauge 72 decreases. Otherwise the wedges in Figure7 operate in the same manner and for the same purpose as in Figures 2and 3.

Referring to Figure 10 it will be noted that a carrier eccentric 82operates a header carrier 83 so that the latter may cooperate withadjusting screws 84, for the purpose of governing the movements ofplungers not shown, which are somewhat similar to those in Figure 3 forfeedin lubricant to .the valves and cylinders. lso in Figure 10 wedges85 operate between the "header carrier and the screw 84 and the wedgesare actuated through the medium of a rocking. rod 86 the teeth of whichcooperate withthe rack 87 of the wedges. The rocking rod 86 carries anarm 88, which in turn is moved by a piston rod 89 which may in turn beactuated by any approved device similar to those now illustrated asconventional ex-- amples. u 4 i As illustrated in Figure 11 the rod 89carrying'the actuator 73 j may be operated by means of a rod 89, whichin turn may receive motion from any improved type of thermostaticexpansion diaphragm identified at 90.

Theinvention having been set forth, what is claimed is: a,

1. In an automatic variable adjusting means for engine lubricators, thecombination with a lubricator including a plurality of plunger elementsto permit supply of lubricant to the valves and cylinders, of dominantdevices for regulating the movements of the plunger elements, andauxiliary means automatically operable according to the variation ofsteam pressure in the valves and cylinders for regulating the.

movements of the plunger elements auxiliary to the dominant devices.

4. Ina lubricator as set torth, dominant means for controlling thefeeding of lubricant to the valves and cylinders according to thevariation of steam pressure in the latter.

3. In a lubricator as set forthfdominant means comprising movableplunger elements and limiting adjusting devices for governing the feedof lubricant to the valves and cylinders of an engine, an auxiliarymoving member operable between the devices and plunger elements, andmeans automatically operable for actuating the auxiliary moving memberto vary its position according to the variation in steam pressure in thevalves and cylinders.

4. In a lubricator as set forth, a plurality of dominant elements andadjusting devices for regulating the feed of lubricant to the valves andcylinders of a locomotive, a plurality of members movable between theelements and the adjustingdevices for governing the movements of theelements, and means automatically operable according to the variation insteam pressure in the valves and cylinders for actuating said members.

5. In a lubricator as set forth, a plurality of dominant plungers, andadjusting screws, the latter being manually adjusted for regulating themovement of-the plunger elements, a plurality of members movable betweenthe adjacent ends of the plunger elements and the screws, means foractuating said members, and means for operating the last named meansaccording to the variation in steam pressure in the valves andcylinders, whereby the members may assume variable positions between theends of the plunger elements and the screws.

6. In a-lubricator as set forth, a plurality of plunger elementsoperable to permit the feed of lubricant to the valves and cylinders ofan engine, dominant regulating screws for governing the movement of theplunger elements, a plurality of members, and means automaticallyoperable variably according to the variation in steam pressure in thevalves and cylinders for actuating the members to variable positionsbetween the plunger elements and the screws.

7. In a lubricator as set forth a plurality of dominant means forpermitting the feed of lubricant to the valves and cylinders of anengine, a plurality of auxiliary members cooperable with said pluralityof means, a movable element for actuating said members, and meansautomatically adjust-able variably according to the steam pressure inthe valves and cylinders, whereby said members may cooperate variablywith the force means, for automatically and variably. regulating thelubricant corresponding to the variation in steam pressure.

8. In a lubricator as set forth, a plurality of means for permittinglubricant to feed to the valves and cylinders of an engine, a pluralityof wedge members to cooperate With said means, a reciprocating elementcarrying said members, and pressuremeans operatively associated with thereciprocating element and being self-adjusting variably to the variationin steam pressure in. the valves and cylinders, whereby said members maycooperate variably with the first means for regulating the feed oflubricant correspondingly to the variation in steam pressure.

9. The combination with a steam locomotive having a force feedlubricator, of means for automatically regulating the supply oflubricant to the cylinders and valves, and means for rendering saidsupply variable according to the variation of steam pressure in thecylinders and valves. 7

10. The combination with a steam engine including a force feedlubricator having plunger elements, of means for changing the strokes ofsaid element-s, and means for causing the change in the strokes to varyaccording to fluid volume in the cylinders and valves of the engine toregulate the supply of lubricant to the valves and cylinders.

11. The combination with a steam engine, of means for automaticallychanging the stroke of a movable element of a force feed lubricator onthe engine, and means for rendering the change of the strokeautomatically variable according to the steam pressure in the enginecylinders and valves, whereby the lubricant thereto is regulated.

12. The combination with a steam locomotive, of a force feed lubricatorincluding a movable element, of means for changing the stroke of theelement, with means for causing the change to vary according to thefluid volume in the steam valve chamber of the locomotive, and therebyregulate the supply of lubricant to the various parts and cavities ofthe locomotive.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

I CHAUNCEY D. ALLEN.

